Your Guide to Becoming a Digital Nomad in Barcelona

According to Nomad List, Barcelona, Spain, is the second-best city for digital nomads after Canggu, Bali. The Catalan capital, Barcelona is home to the third-largest number of freelancers in Europe and has dozens of monthly events for freelancers and digital nomads. If you’re looking for an affordable, warm, beachside location with plenty of other digital nomads, consider joining the community of digital nomads in Barcelona. Here’s how to do it:

1.) Where to Live

This is a big city, so if you’re going to live there and join the community of digital nomads in Barcelona, you’ll want to avoid the touristy areas such as the Gothic Quarter – especially in the summer, when tourism is at its peak. Sant Martí and Poblenou are two neighborhoods with large digital nomad communities (and lots of working spaces), so it’s great if you like to network.

But be warned: Places fill up fast, so don’t expect to show up and find an apartment on day one. You’ll need to start looking at least a month in advance, and be prepared to share an apartment, as single apartments can be hard to find.

Barcelona has been cracking down on Airbnb rentals, so, while they do exist, you won’t find as many availabilities as you would in other cities. Instead, try Facebook groups such as Barcelona Rentals or Idealista.

If you’re interested in co-living spaces, check out CoWorkation: Located about 20 minutes by foot from the city center, the space has a beautiful rooftop terrace and describes itself as “a modernist mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of Sarria, with a palm tree hanging over the beautiful green garden, with tables and chairs to work al fresco,or enjoy a vino and BBQ in the evening.” The home can accommodate approximately 20, and prices start at around $600/month per person.